Nocturnal 
Two police officers have been sacked after a disciplinary panel found they used “unjustified and excessive” force on a 92-year-old amputee in his care home bedroom.
PC Stephen Smith, 52, and PC Rachel Comotto, 37, were dismissed without notice following a week-long misconduct hearing at Sussex Police headquarters in Lewes. Both have also been placed on the College of Policing’s barred list, meaning they can never work in policing again.
The pair were called to Park Beck care home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, on 21 June 2022 after resident Donald Burgess, who had dementia, poked a care worker in the stomach with a dinner knife. Bodyworn footage showed Mr Burgess, a wheelchair user with one leg amputated, sitting in his room still holding the knife when the officers arrived.
Within 90 seconds, the panel found, Smith had discharged Pava spray in Mr Burgess’s face and struck his arm with a baton, while Comotto deployed her Taser. Footage shown at the hearing captured Mr Burgess screaming as he was shocked, and he was heard replying “I’m dying, I’m dying” when Comotto asked how he was feeling.
Mr Burgess was taken to hospital after the incident, where he later contracted Covid-19 and died 22 days later. Sussex Police has said the evidence did not indicate the officers’ actions caused or contributed to his death.
Both officers were acquitted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Southwark Crown Court in May 2025. The misconduct panel, however, concluded they breached professional standards around use of force, discreditable conduct, and authority, respect and courtesy.
Why it matters
The panel found Mr Burgess, isolated in his own room and posing little risk to the officers, should never have been subjected to a baton strike, pepper spray and a Taser in such quick succession. Assistant Chief Constable Peter Gardner said Mr Burgess “posed no risk” to the officers or other residents.
IOPC director of engagement Emily Barry said the footage “has caused widespread concern and anger”, adding: “This was not a fast-paced incident where the officers or other care home residents were in immediate danger… Any use of force should have been a last resort and only used when necessary.”
The panel also found neither officer made any real attempt to de-escalate the situation. Sussex Police lawyer Aaron Rathmell told the hearing the pair “acted hastily, harshly and lost control”.
Comotto faced a separate, upheld allegation over a Facebook exchange on the day of the incident. Responding to a colleague’s birthday message reading “the care home is getting closer and closer”, she replied: “We all know what happens in care homes”, followed by a lightning bolt emoji. She later accepted the comment “doesn’t look good”.
What happens next
Mr Burgess’s family said they welcomed the sacking but want an inquest into his death resumed, saying there are “unanswered questions” about the force used and about the care home’s own actions, including the fact that nearby relatives were not contacted before police were called. “Donald was a much-loved family man,” they said. “We want him to be remembered for the life he lived, not simply for the events that brought us to this point.”
Sussex Police has confirmed both officers remain barred from future policing roles. It is not yet clear when any resumed inquest into Mr Burgess’s death would take place.
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A photo of Sussex Police headquarters or a generic care home exterior, alongside file images of PC Stephen Smith and PC Rachel Comotto if available from court/hearing coverage.
Two Sussex Police officers have been sacked after a panel ruled they used “unjustified and excessive” force on a 92-year-old amputee in his care home room.
true
Sensitive story involving an elderly vulnerable person, use of force by police and a death – keep tone factual and respectful, no jokes or light emojis in comments moderation.
[“Sussex Police headquarters Lewes”, “Park Beck care home St Leonards-on-Sea”, “police Taser”, “IOPC Independent Office for Police Conduct”, “elderly care home resident wheelchair”]
[“Exact date of the misconduct hearing decision (ITV timestamp suggests Tuesday 6 October 2026)”, “Whether the knife was described as a ‘dinner knife’, ‘butter knife’ or ‘cutlery knife’ across sources varies slightly”, “Confirm current status of any inquest resumption request”]
